Prevalence of Malnutrition and Vitamin A Deficiency in Nigerian Preschool Children Subsisting on High Intakes of Carotenes

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A. Adelekan ◽  
A.O. Fatusi ◽  
J.B. Fakunle ◽  
C.T. Olotu ◽  
I.A. Olukoga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Low Weight ◽  
Plasma Retinol ◽  
Height For Age ◽  
Weight For Age

The prevalence of malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency was determined in 204 preschool children of both sexes aged 3–57 months. The children were recruited from 2 rural communities of Atakumosa Local Government Area of Osun State in South West Nigeria. Dietary vitamin A intake was estimated from frequency of consumption of locally available vitamin A containing food items. Vitamin A status of the children was assessed from concentration of retinol in plasma. Nutritional status was assessed from height and weight compared with international reference standards. The results indicate widespread malnutrition among the children. The prevalence of stunting (low height for age) was 60.8% while prevalence of wasting (low weight for height) was 7.4% and of underweight (low weight for age) 27.5%. Dietary vitamin A intake appeared to be adequate in the children. Intake of vitamin A is predominantly from plant sources. At least 43% of the children consumed the carotene rich red palm oil 6 or more times per week in contrast to less than 1% who consumed eggs or milk for 6 or more times per week. Vitamin A deficiency was low in the children. Only 11.3% of the children had plasma retinol concentration <0.70µmol/L. The results indicate that childhood malnutrition of public health magnitude can coexist with adequate dietary vitamin A intakes or vitamin A status.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a two-generation rat model for vitamin A deficiency and the interrelationship with iron metabolism

1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 689-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annet J. C. Roodenburg ◽  
Clive E. West ◽  
Robert Hovenier ◽  
Anton C. Beynen
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Normal Vitamin ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Plasma Retinol

In order to induce a range of vitamin A-deficient states in young growing rats and to study the effect of vitamin A deficiency on Fe status, we designed the following two-generation experiment. Dams were fed on diets with one of five vitamin A levels from 2 weeks before and throughout pregnancy and lactation. The pups received the same diets as their mothers both before and after weaning. The five dietary levels of vitamin A were 1200, 450, 150, 75 and 0 retinol equivalents/kg feed. Vitamin A intake did not affect reproduction outcome, nor were body and liver weights of the pups affected when they were 3·5 weeks old. Male pups with normal vitamin A status had higher plasma retinol levels than female pups. Vitamin A status of the offspring was affected from 3·5 weeks onwards. Body and liver weights were decreased in the male pups given the lowest dietary vitamin A levels from week 6·5 onwards but not in the female pups. Fe status was marginally affected. Haemoglobin levels were increased and total Fe-binding capacity was decreased in the groups given no dietary vitamin A at week 9·5. Splenic Fe was increased only in the male pups given the lowest levels of dietary vitamin A. However, as a whole, Fe status was only mildly affected and subject to considerable variation. We conclude that the two-generation rat model described here is not suitable for studying effects of vitamin A deficiency on Fe metabolism.

scholarly journals Vitamin A intake and infection are associated with plasma retinol among pre-school children in rural Zambia

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 1688-1696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Hotz ◽  
Justin Chileshe ◽  
Ward Siamusantu ◽  
Uma Palaniappan ◽  
Emmanuel Kafwembe
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Acute Phase Proteins ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
Response Test ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Plasma Retinol ◽  
Modified Relative Dose Response

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, infection and adequacy of vitamin A intakes among Zambian children, and the contribution of dietary vitamin A and infection to vitamin A status.DesignA cross-sectional survey of vitamin A intakes by the 24 h recall method, vitamin A status by plasma retinol and the modified relative dose-response test, and infection by acute-phase proteins.SettingRural communities in Central and Eastern Provinces of Zambia.SubjectsChildren 2–5 years of age.ResultsThe prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was 56 % by plasma retinol, 48 % with infection-adjusted plasma retinol and 22 % by the modified relative dose-response test. The majority of children (61 %) had a current infection. Vitamin A intakes were relatively high (331 to 585 μg retinol activity equivalents/d in the harvest/early post-harvest and late post-harvest seasons, respectively) and the prevalence of inadequate intakes was <1 % when compared with the Estimated Average Requirement (210 and 275 μg retinol activity equivalents/d for children aged 1–3 and 4–8 years, respectively). Elevated α-1-acid glycoprotein was negatively associated with plasma retinol (P< 0·0 0 1) and vitamin A intake was positively associated with plasma retinol (P< 0·05), but only when estimated assuming a 26:1 retinol equivalence for provitamin A from green and yellow vegetables.ConclusionsInfection and vitamin A intakes were significant determinants of plasma retinol. We cannot conclude which indicator more accurately represents the true vitamin A status of the population. Reasons for the persistent high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in the presence of adequate vitamin A intakes are unclear, but the high rates of infection may play a role.

scholarly journals Production of chickens with marginal vitamin A deficiency

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 283-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive E. West ◽  
S. Reinder Sijtsma ◽  
Harry P. F. Peters ◽  
Jan H. W. M. Rombout ◽  
Akke J. Van Der Zijpp
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
General Health ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Generation Model ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Plasma Retinol ◽  
High Level

Marginally vitamin A-deficient 1-d-old chickens capable of remaining healthy for at least 6 weeks were produced using a two-generation model. In this model, hens fed on diets with a limited vitamin A content were used to obtain 1-d-old chickens which were marginally deficient in vitamin A. Only hens with a narrow range of plasma retinol values (0.60–0.85 μmol/l) were satisfactory for this purpose. Above this range the 1-d-old chickens were not marginally vitamin A deficient. Below this range egg production and hatchability were affected to some extent depending on the degree of vitamin A deficiency. Even when egg production and hatchability remained at a high level in such birds, the 1-d-old chickens produced were not sufficiently strong to survive the first weeks of life. The advantages of the two-generation model for producing marginally vitamin A-deficient chickens are the increased uniformity and predictability of the chickens with respect to body-weight, general health and vitamin A status. However, it does take about 3 months to produce such chickens.

scholarly journals Use of the retinol-binding protein : transthyretin ratio for assessment of vitamin A status during the acute-phase response

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 513-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne M. Filteau ◽  
Juana F. Willumsen ◽  
Keith Sullivan ◽  
Karin Simmank ◽  
Mary Gamble
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Retinol Binding Protein ◽  
Serum Retinol ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Plasma Retinol

The ratio plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP) : transthyretin (TTR) has been proposed as a means to improve the assessment of vitamin A status of individuals with concurrent infection or inflammation. We have measured RBP and TTR in stored sera from South African children who had accidentally ingested kerosene. Samples were collected from these children in hospital when suffering acute inflammation and respiratory distress, and from them and neighbourhood control children 3 months later. Vitamin A status was defined by modified relative dose response (MRDR) tests of liver retinol stores at 3 months and by serum retinol concentration both when children were ill and when they were well. Illness was defined as either being in hospital or, at follow-up, as having a raised plasma α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) level. The RBP : TTR value was significantly decreased by both illness and low liver retinol stores. When the effects on RBP : TTR of illness and vitamin A stores were considered together for the 3-month follow-up samples, only vitamin A status significantly decreased the value. We calculated sensitivity and specificity of the RBP : TTR ratio against established measures of vitamin A status using a cut-off value of 0·3 for RBP : TTR and standard cut-off values for MRDR (0·06) and plasma retinol (0·7 μmol/l). Compared with MRDR, RBP : TTR had sensitivities of 76 % and 43 % and specificities of 22 % and 81 % to detect vitamin A deficiency in hospitalized and well children respectively. Compared with plasma retinol, sensitivities were 88 % and 44 % and specificities were 55 % and 64 % in hospitalized and well children respectively. Only for the case of clinically well children with biochemical evidence of subclinical inflammation did sensitivity (62 % and 100 % against MRDR and plasma retinol respectively) and specificity (100 % and 60 % against MRDR and retinol) approach useful levels for an assessment tool. Overall, although a trend supporting the theory behind the use of the RBP : TTR for assessment of vitamin A status in infection was observed in the current study, the ratio did not provide adequate sensitivity and specificity to be a useful assessment tool.

scholarly journals Improving the Dietary Vitamin A Content of Rural Communities in South Africa by Replacing Non-Biofortified White Maize and Sweet Potato with Biofortified Maize and Sweet Potato in Traditional Dishes

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurencia Govender ◽  
Kirthee Pillay ◽  
Muthulisi Siwela ◽  
Albert Thembinkosi Modi ◽  
Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Sweet Potato ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Isoleucine Leucine ◽  
Lower Protein

Biofortification of staple crops has a potential for addressing micronutrient deficiencies, such as vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which are prevalent in South Africa. The poor acceptability of provitamin A (PVA)-biofortified foods could be improved by combining them with other food items to produce modified traditional dishes. The nutritional composition of the dishes could also be improved by the modification. The study aimed to investigate the effect of replacing white maize and cream-fleshed sweet potato (CFSP)] with PVA-biofortified maize and orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) on the nutritional composition of South African traditional dishes. The protein, fibre, total mineral (ash), lysine, and iron concentrations of the PVA maize phutu (traditional porridge) composite dishes (control), were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of white maize phutu composite dishes. However, the PVA concentration of PVA maize phutu composite dishes was higher than that of the white phutu composite dishes (P > 0.05). The OFSP had a significantly lower protein concentration, but a significantly higher (P > 0.05) fibre, ash, lysine, isoleucine, leucine, and PVA concentration, relative to the CFSP. The findings indicate that composite dishes in which white maize is replaced with PVA-biofortified maize, and switching over from CFSP to OFSP, would contribute to combating VAD in South Africa, and in other developing counties.

scholarly journals The effect of retinyl palmitate added to iron-fortified maize porridge on erythrocyte incorporation of iron in African children with vitamin A deficiency

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Davidsson ◽  
Pierre Adou ◽  
Christophe Zeder ◽  
Thomas Walczyk ◽  
Richard Hurrell
Keyword(s):  
Single Dose ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Test Meal ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Retinyl Palmitate ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin A Supplementation ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Before And After

Retinyl palmitate added to Fe-fortified maize bread has been reported to enhance Fe absorption in adult Venezuelan subjects but not in Western Europeans. It is not known to what extent these results were influenced by differences in vitamin A status of the study subjects. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of retinyl palmitate added to Fe-fortified maize porridge on erythrocyte incorporation of Fe in children with vitamin A deficiency, before and after vitamin A supplementation. Erythrocyte incorporation of Fe-stable isotopes was measured 14 d after intake of maize porridge (2·0 mg Fe added as ferrous sulfate) with and without added retinyl palmitate (3·5 μmol; 3300 IU). The study was repeated 3 weeks after vitamin A supplementation (intake of a single dose of 210 μmol retinyl palmitate; ‘vitamin A capsule’). Vitamin A status was evaluated by the modified relative dose–response (MRDR) technique. Retinyl palmitate added to the test meal reduced the geometric mean erythrocyte incorporation of Fe at baseline from 4·0 to 2·6 % (P=0·008, n 13; paired t test). At 3 weeks after vitamin A supplementation, geometric mean erythrocyte incorporation was 1·9 and 2·3 % respectively from the test meal with and without added retinyl palmitate (P=0·283). Mean dehydroretinol:retinol molar ratios were 0·156 and 0·125 before and after intake of the single dose of 210 μmol retinyl palmitate; ‘vitamin A capsule’ (P=0·15). In conclusion, retinyl palmitate added to the labelled test meals significantly decreased erythrocyte incorporation of Fe in children with vitamin A deficiency at baseline but had no statistically significant effect 3 weeks after vitamin A supplementation. The difference in response to retinyl palmitate added to Fe-fortified maize porridge on erythrocyte incorporation of Fe before and after intake of the vitamin A capsule indicates, indirectly, changes in vitamin A status not measurable by the MRDR technique. The lack of conclusive data on the effect of retinyl palmitate on Fe absorption indicates the complexity of the interactions between vitamin A status, dietary vitamin A and Fe metabolism.

scholarly journals Anthropometric study on children of Garo and non-Garo families in Netrakona district of Bangladesh

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-272
Author(s):  
SMB Rahman ◽  
MB Uddin ◽  
I Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Nutrition Status ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Tribal Women ◽  
Low Weight ◽  
Infants And Young Children ◽  
Height For Age ◽  
Weight For Age

Anthropometric indicators such as weight-for-height (wasting), height-for-age (stunting) and weight-for-age   (underweight) are important in evaluating the health and nutrition status of children in low-income areas of   Bangladesh where malnutrition is still a large public health problem. Present investigation was carried out to assess   the anthropometric status of tribal (Garo) and non tribal women of different villages of four Unions of Kalmakanada   upazila under Netrakona district. Data were collected through well structured questionnaire. Total one hundred   seventy families, ninety from tribal (Garo) and one hundred eighty from non-tribal constituted the sample of the study.   The results show that malnutrition problem in this area is common due to poverty and children have low weight, under   height, wasting and malnourished. The hierarchical interrelationships of potential determinants of malnutrition,   wasting and underweight turned out to be independently predicted by morbidity factors. Stunting, however, was   predicted by socioeconomic, environmental and health-care factors in addition to morbidity. Strategies aimed at   improving the growth of infants and young children in rural communities should address morbidity due to common   childhood illness coupled with environmental and socio-economically oriented measures.   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v9i2.11039   J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 9(2): 267–272, 2011

Research Recommendations for Applying Vitamin A-Labelled Isotope Dilution Techniques to Improve Human Vitamin A Nutrition

2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo ◽  
Anura V. Kurpad ◽  
Janet R. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
The Body ◽  
Pool Size ◽  
Serum Retinol ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Total Body

The current use of serum retinol concentrations as a measurement of subclinical vitamin A deficiency is unsatisfactory for many reasons. The best technique available for vitamin A status assessment in humans is the measurement of total body pool size. Pool size is measured by the administration of retinol labelled with stable isotopes of carbon or hydrogen that are safe for human subjects, with subsequent measurement of the dilution of the labelled retinol within the body pool. However, the isotope techniques are time-consuming, technically challenging, and relatively expensive. There is also a need to assess different types of tracers and doses, and to establish clear guidelines for the use and interpretation of this method in different populations. Field-friendly improvements are desirable to encourage the application of this technique in developing countries where the need is greatest for monitoring the risk of vitamin A deficiency, the effectiveness of public health interventions, and the potential of hypervitaminosis due to combined supplement and fortification programs. These techniques should be applied to validate other less technical methods of assessing vitamin A deficiency. Another area of public health relevance for this technique is to understand the bioconversion of β-carotene to vitamin A, and its relation to existing vitamin A status, for future dietary diversification programs.

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